Omar Clay

US drummer/percussionist (1935 St. Louis, MO - December 4, 2008 San Francisco, CA).
He grew in Steubenville, OH. Clay played actively throughout his high school career and continued as a college student at Xavier University in New Orleans, LA. He switched his major from Liberal Arts to Music. He left Xavier after one year due to lack of funds and joined the Army. This decision was influenced by Curtis Fuller's experience playing music while in the Army. After degree in Michigan established himself in the New York jazz scene. An early associate in New York was Otis (Candy) Finch. Played at the Five-Spot with Charles Mingus. Also played with Warren Smith. He was introduced to Sarah Vaughan in New York, auditioned and was hired to go with her to perform in Las Vegas. He played with Sarah Vaughan throughout 1965 touring. He met Louis Armstrong during his association with Vaughan. After parted ways with Sarah Vaughan, taught music in New York, 1967. Then Clay was featured in master drummer Max Roach's all-percussion ensemble M'Boom, playing marimba, tympani, timbales and xylophone. He was equally at home working with singer Ernestine Anderson and hard-blowing saxophonists like David "Fathead" Newman, Frank Foster and Gene Ammons. In 1979, he moved to Mill Valley, CA, earning a Master's degree in music education from San Francisco State University. Clay died December 4, 2008, in San Francisco of complications from Lou Gehrig's disease. He was 73.